Make a MONTH of meals in ONE night.

That's right, people. I made a month of meals in a single night... My friends and I started a little FREEZER MEAL group last month and dinner time has never been better (or more cost effective!) If you're interested in starting your own group, this is what you need to do (in a very simplified explanation.)

• Gather a few friends who want to make their busy, complicated lives a little easier. (Our group has 6 people.. but that's not necessarily a special number.)

• Meet together to discuss a menu. Decide on the meals you want to make. Multiply the recipe ingredients by the number of people in your group.

• Make a master shopping list... (our list included TONS of gallon zip lock bags, disposable tin casserole pans, and other necessities for our meals.)

• Assign a person to host the freezer meal making party.

• Assign a grocery shopper (or 2 or 3 because it's a lot of groceries!)

• Divide the prep work (like chopping onions, browning the hamburger, etc.) among the members. The prep work takes about an hour or so of time. (For instance, last month I shredded 15 pounds of chicken for everyone's chicken enchiladas. Someone else chopped the onions :)
  

• Set a date to prepare the meals. We like doing it on a weeknight. It takes a couple of hours to assemble the meals, but let me tell you, it's a good time!

• Bring your prep work to the meal making party --along with your cooler and fill it up with lots of good, healthy meals!

• Divide the costs. We paid a little over $100 each for our meals.. this included all the tin pans, baggies, etc. Very cost effective and no dinner dishes!
  

• Take home a months worth of meals for your family and stop stressing about what to make for dinner!

We made 14 meals total, but the recipes are about 2 meals each (at least for my family.) Most of the meals are great for crockpots and lay flat in the freezer in a zip lock bag. We originally thought we were going to have to purchase a freezer for our garage, but there is plenty of room. For December, our menu includes lots of yummy soups to keep us warm in this COLD Vegas weather!

If you want a list of several recipes we've used, leave a comment with your email address and I will send it to you.. A big thanks to my friend Stephanie who gave us great instructions and got us going!

Also, if you live in Vegas and are feeling left out, I am sorry. I tried advertising it the best I could and went with the first 5 people interested. There are enough people who want to start another group. Talk to me and we'll get something going..

For other WFMW tips, check out Shannon's blog.

1970 called. They want their laundry room back.

What were you doing this morning at 1am? I was painting mustard, orange and green stripes in my laundry room. I think it turned out great, but I forgot to ask my husband's opinion before I started. Oh well, I figured if he doesn't spend any time in the room, then he doesn't have a say on how it's painted. Word.

Before..
just plain ol' boring white.


During..
quite the mess. especially after I stepped on a paintbrush on the ground.
yes, I mixed colors again. I wanted the mustard less mustardy..
so I lighted it up a bit in a bucket. ALL of these colors were on the clearance (miss-matched) isle at Walmart. I think the whole project was about $15... including the 3 rolls of tape used.
Suh-weet.


Keeping the kids busy.
Homeschooling=slave labor.


The final product


so many busy pictures.. I tried to get it from all angles.



Pictured is my shoe organizer on the back of the door. I love this.. it keeps my super glue, exacto knife, batteries, balloons, etc out of reach. the laundry room is the best place for all these odds and ends (in my opinion :) So far the kids (especially ZACK) have stayed away from it... *knocking on wood*



I still have a few touch ups on the ceiling.. but not bad for a one day project. And here's a shout out to my friend, Natalie, who was a huge help! She stayed late while our husbands went to play basketball together. It's always fun to have company especially at 11 pm when our kids were crying and roaming the house naked!

PS. Today The Twins Turn TEN!
I can't believe it's already been ten years! I still remember the day you were born.. I was telling everyone on campus at Ricks College that I was an aunt to twins! A boy and a girl.. who are still the best of friends. We sure do love you Cole and Corah!

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down..

It's definitely not raining or snowing in Vegas.. and I am glad about that. But how is it Monday again already? I had every intention of blogging over the weekend, but there wasn't a second to spare. It just goes by too fast and somehow we're starting another week. We had a great time the past couple of days... we went to the temple, bought a new couch, started another painting project, tried a couple of new recipes, ate the yummiest apple cinnamon bread, hung curtains, took long naps, and decorated our house Turkey-style.. it was busy and I don't have a single picture to show for it.

I do, however, have another picture. I came across a photo from one of my bridal showers (taken 8.5 years ago.) And at the time, I was wondering how in the world I could keep in touch with ALL of these girls that I love so much. Guess what?? EVERY one of them has a blog.. EVERY SINGLE ONE. and those who don't keep their blogs updated (you know who you are) I so wish you would so I wouldn't have to CALL you to know what's happening in your life. Who uses the phone anymore, really?

Bloggers pictured:
Top: RaeLynn, Tristie, Heidi, Nat
Middle: Francine, Azy, Moi, Janessa, Steph
Bottom: Smelsha, My sister Debbie, Kelly, Becky, and the hostess Valerie.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to bear my blogging testimony. I love keeping in touch with so many people that I love. I am so grateful we have the technology we have to make it so easy. I am so glad we can print it out at the end of the year and have everything documented. I am so grateful for my kids... for the material they give me to blog about. And even though my husband is not an active part of my blogging world and will probably never become a member-- I am grateful that he gives me the support to do what I love. I am grateful for the people who comment because I totally feel the Spirit every time you do. I know that blogging is the ONLY way to live and that whoever invented it was inspired by God to restore it in these Latter-days. I say these things over the World Wide Web. Amen.

Bad Moms Anoymous

I know. Two posts in one day. buckle your seat belts.

We met Aaron for lunch yesterday.. I was proud of myself for getting out the door on time (when Aaron meets us for lunch he shows up 10 minutes late.. because he thinks I will show up 10 minutes late.) We were in the garage, getting into the van when Zack, standing in a puddle of wetness, says "Oops. I peed my pants." Ugh. He hasn't had an accident in forever and he purposely chose THIS time to pee his pants because he hates me and loves to see me irritated. We went inside, changed his pants, underwear, socks AND shoes.. all while Zack is explaining to his brothers that he's not a big boy anymore. He's smart, that one.

We get back out to the garage and realize that the huge, heavy 500 pound bench seats are against the garage wall and not inside the car. Aaron took them out so that he could vacuum the van after our disgusting road trip where the kids had gobs of candy and popcorn from Halloween. It was sweet of my husband to clean out MY car, but he didn't put the seats back in. As much as I would like to drive around with my kids rolling on the floor, it's against the law. And I never break the law when the safety of my children is in jeopardy.

So, I rally the troops to help me lift up one of the monstrous seats.. (because one is all I NEED for the legal amount of seat belts.) Whenever I ask for the boys' help--especially if it involves physical labor-- Ben is the only one to respond. Luke will pretend like he's a big helper. He will make a face like he's lifting and sometimes even grunt as though it's too heavy.. when in reality, he's not lifting a finger. It's kinda cute and kinda annoying. Anyway, Ben and I lift the heavy seat in the back and lock it in place.

My kids LOVE it when our 3-seater is in the van without the 2-seater. They have lots of room to stretch their legs, do a little dance before buckling up, etc.... it's basically like we're having a party in a moving vehicle. I like it too because there is so much SPACE between us... and when Zack needs something, I pretend I can't hear him because he's so far away from me.

The kids were were all sitting down, putting on their own buckles when I pulled out of the garage and called Aaron to tell him that I was running late. When I hit the busy road, I realized that Zack and Ben are firmly buckled, but Luke was only pretending to be buckled in. Does anyone else have a child who pretends to be buckled? Mine pulls the seat belt over his lap and holds it with his hand, but never actually clicks it in the clicker. He's very tricky that way. But I wasn't falling for it. So I said to him (in a very June-Cleaver-ish sort of way) "Luke, please put on your seat belt."

He responds with, "I have my buckle on, Mom."

Me: "You're being pretty tricky, Luke. But I know you don't have it on the right way. Make sure it clicks."

The little liar says, "I am not tricking you! It really is on! Can't you see that it's across my lap?"

Me: "I am not going to ask you again, Luke. Click it in and pull it tight. You could get really hurt if we got into a wreck."

"But Mom! I promise! IT'S ON! I clicked it!"

And this is when my He-Is-Going-To-Have-To-Learn-This-The-Hard-Way personality takes over and makes me do mean things. I see that there is a red light ahead and zero cars behind me... so I decide to SLAM on my brakes long before I need to stop. Ben and Zack who were firmly in their seat belts said something like, "WHOA." And Luke... who had just promised that his seat belt was on, went flying... and with so much space in the van, his cute little body came all the way up to the front seat.

I was laughing hysterically when he stood up and quietly whispered, "Okay, I will put my seat belt on."

Very good, son. Very good.

And THAT is how we spent our afternoon. Lunch was very delicious, by the way.

This or that? Lighthearted comparisons.

To compare or not to compare. That is the daily battle of most women. Why do we add stress to our lives by making constant comparisons? No matter where we turn someone is always doing/being something better than we are. Their house is cleaner, their jeans are smaller, their kids are better behaved, they seem to have it more together, they have more comments on their blog, etcetera, etcetera. The past few months (after reading my favorite book that I never talk about because it means too much and I would talk too long about it) I have found myself comparing less and life is definitley less complicated.

However, the past week or so, my boys conversations revolve around comparisons. It's not so much that they aren't as good as someone else, but they are really analyzing everything in general-- wanting to know if it's better and why. This is new for them (I think) and may have been triggered by the recent election talk. It's definitely taken a new spin on the things said at our house. Every time I turn around my kids are talking about who sees farther, who runs fastest, freckles or no freckles, which child is better behaved, who eats the most dinner. At first I was thinking it was a solely a boy/competitive thing.. but I think it's more than that. It's like a whole new way to have a conversation. Let me share a few of their discussions, so you get an idea. These have all happened in the past week... and I am telling you, is a small percentage of their non stop comparisons.


Situation 1: How many stairs will make you happy?

Ben asks the family WHICH HOUSE we like the best. The one we're living in or our smaller townhouse we just moved from. I would think it would be an easy question.. with no discussion needed, but I was wrong.

Ben: Are you guys glad we moved?
Me: How could you say that? Everything about this house is nicer than our other place.
Ben: Yeah, I think I like this house better, but I am just not sure.
Me: We have so much more room and we can paint the walls and make it OURS.
Luke: Well, the other house had 16 steps and this house only has 15. So not everything is better about it.
Aaron and I looked at each other and tried not to laugh while they kept talking... Luke is a numbers man. If one stair was going to make him happier, than maybe we should have stayed.


Situation 2: Which food is higher on the "healthy" scale?
(this is a conversation that happens almost at every meal, but here are a few examples..)

While eating at Cafe Rio:
Luke: What is more healthy, the strawberry or the cheese quesadilla?
Me: Um. probably the strawberry.
Ben: What? I thought the strawberry was the dessert!
Me: well, it's a fruit. The cheese quesadilla is a good source of protein, but it has fat too.
Luke: So which one should I eat first? (not stressing about it, just wondering for future eating habits :)
Me: It probably doesn't matter. You need to eat them both.
Ben: What he means is, if you had to chose only ONE to eat for the rest of your life, which one should he chose?
Me: I don't know. Maybe the quesadilla ?
Luke: I would chose the strawberry.
Ben: Me too.

A typical dinner question:
Ben: Which is more healthy CHICKEN or TURKEY?
Me: Um, I don't know. It depends on what part of the turkey or chicken you were eating.
Ben: Well, I think turkey is better because a whole holiday was named after it.


Situation 3: If you could color your wife what would she look like?

In the car, the boys were having a FULL BLOWN discussion on what they want their future wife to look like. This is HUGE for my boys because I wasn't sure they knew girls existed. This was what I overheard in the back seat:

Luke: Do you like brown or blue eyes?
Ben: Blue because I have blue. Don't you wish your eyes were blue?
Luke: Yeah, probably. But I like green too.
Ben: Well what color of hair do you like for girls?
Luke: I don't know. What do you like?
Ben: I think black hair is the prettiest. But I like red and brown too.
Zack: (Screaming) I like blonde hair! I like blonde hair!
Luke: (laughing) Zack likes blondes. But what color of eyes do you want, Zack? Blue?
Zack: Not blue. Light blue. Light blue. I have light blue.
Me: He thinks you're talking about what color of eyes HE has.. not want he wants in a wife.
Ben: yeah. I don't think he wants a wife, yet.
Me: Do you?
Ben: No way.
Me: Well, what is it about black hair that you like?
Ben: I just think it's the prettiest hair color.
Me: Who has BLACK hair that you know?
Ben: well.. Kaitlin does. (this is serious stuff because Kaitlin is his good friend who happens to have a crush on him in a major way!)
Me: *trying to remain calm and not sound like I am teasing* So, do you think you want to marry Kaitlin?
Ben: No. Just someone that has the same hair color as her.

RIGHT E-O.


Situation 4: If we could pick our own presidential candidates...

Ben: I would never vote for Megatron if he was running for President. Would you Luke?
Luke: Who is he running against?
Ben: Optimus Prime.
Luke: Then I would NEVER vote for Megatron. He would just blow up stuff.
Me: Well, doesn't Optimus Prime blow up stuff?
Ben: Yeah, but only bad things. If Megatron had control of our country, everyone would die.
Luke: If you could pick Jazz or Bumble Bee for President, who would you pick?
Me: That's a tough call because they are both good.
Ben: That's not hard at all. I would always pick Jazz. He's my favorite of ALL the Transformers.
Luke: Yeah, mine too. **which really means, I have no opinion, but chose whatever Ben chooses.**


Situation 5: Which of the three chipmunks is the coolest.

After watching the movie, I overheard this conversation (and I still laugh out loud every time I think about it.)

Ben: I think Alvin is the funniest even though he gets in the most trouble.
Luke: Yeah. and Simon is the smartest.
Ben: But Simon is never any fun.
Luke: And he has glasses.
Ben: Well, what about Theodore?
Luke: Um.... (LONG PAUSE)
Ben: Well, I guess he has a really big butt. ?

And you wonder why I Homeschool.